§ Mr. ThomasonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his plans for special grants to local authorities following the Court of Appeal's judgment on 21 June in respect of regulations withdrawing benefits from asylum seekers. [35447]
§ Mr. CurryMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security announced on 24 June that the Government intend to amend the Asylum and Immigration Bill so as to exclude from eligibility for 269W benefit certain asylum seekers and certain other persons from abroad. Other provisions in the Bill would make similar changes to eligibility for assistance under the homelessness legislation at about the same time as the benefit rules are changed. Any remaining costs to local housing authorities should be minimal.
Because housing benefit payments are now available to persons housed under the homelessness legislation since 5 February, the Government have decided that the proposed persons from abroad housing benefit special grant to local housing authorities is no longer required.
There is likely to be some continuing burden on social services departments in connection with supporting children in need and their families, and the Government's commitment to assist social services authorities with those costs, given earlier this year, remains unchanged. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health intends to lay a revised special grant report proposing a special grant to social services authorities. The terms of this grant are likely to be similar to the persons from abroad children's grant in the special grant report (No. 19) which was laid before Parliament on 6 June. The special grant report (No. 19) has been withdrawn.